Portable Toilet, Stool and Table

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed toward a combination toilet and stool/table. This structure includes opposing and parallel front and rear walls, along with opposing and parallel side walls. The side walls are capable of folding so that the structure can be portable. A foldable seat is attached to the rear wall and is secured to the structure by securing tabs located along the top edge of the side walls and front wall. A bag for receiving waste, garbage and other items can be placed within the interior of the structure. Access to the bag is through an opening in the foldable seat. The foldable seat includes a lid that can be moved between an open position and a closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed toward a lightweight toiletthat can also serve as a stool and/or table. More specifically, thepresent invention is directed toward a disposable, collapsible toilet,which can also be used as a stool and/or table.

Various designs for portable toilets are currently being used whiletraveling, camping, hiking, hunting or participating in other activitieswhere conventional toilets are not readily accessible. For example, U.S.Pat. No. 4,199,826, shows a portable toilet combination. This deviceshows a structure shaped like a suitcase. The device has variouscompartments for storing accessories and a central compartment for wastereception. While the device may be portable in some fashion, it appearsto be relatively large and bulky. Consequently, it would be difficult totransport easily, especially for backpackers and the like. Also, itappears as if the device would require an inordinately large amount ofstorage space when not in use. Thus, it would adversely affect thestorage space otherwise available to a traveler in a vehicle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,301 shows a portable toilet that includes shows twoseparate components that may be folded to decrease the overall bulk ofthe device. However, the device does not appear to provide a suitableseating structure when not in use as a toilet. Also, the device is not aunitary structure and the disparate top could be easily lost ormisplaced, causing the device to malfunction. U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,414discloses a portable toilet that includes foldable sides andinterlocking seat. However, the seat is not secured to the foldablesides making it prone to collapse.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,991 shows a portable self-contained toilet that isreasonably sized compared to conventional toilets but still entirely toobulky. This device also uses fluids to flush its bowl. As a consequence,the device would be weighty as well. The device also fails to provide acomfortable seating structure when not in use as a toilet. U.S. Pat. No.Des. 358,459, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,526,537 and 5,586,344 show variousportable toilet structures. However, none of these devices appear to becompact. They also fail to provide a comfortable seating structure whennot in use as a toilet.

Thus, there exists a need in the art for an improved portable toilet incombination with a stool and/or table and toilet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the needs discussed above. As set outabove, the present invention is generally directed toward a lightweighttoilet that can also serve as a stool and/or table. More specifically,the present invention is directed toward a disposable, collapsibletoilet, which can also be used as a stool and/or table.

One aspect of the inventive toilet/seat/table includes a structure beingmade from lightweight, corrugated cardboard, resulting in a structurethat is simple to assemble and is capable of supporting the weight ofits user. Further, this aspect is disposable making is easy to depositin an appropriate waste receptacle and/or incinerated in a campfireand/or buried beneath the surface for disposal after use.

The cardboard is cut to include a series of preformed folds such thatthe cardboard can be arranged to form four walls defining an interior.Additionally, the cardboard includes two top panels that create the topportion that can be used as a seat or table top.

The four walls include a solid front wall, a solid rear wall and twocollapsible side walls. The two collapsible side walls include havingperforations to enable the walls to collapse inward toward the interiorof the structure. An adhesive strip is placed along one of the sidepanels in order interlock the four walls.

The top panels include a support panel and a seat panel. The supportpanel includes an opening so that waste, garbage and other items may beplaced within the interior of the structure. The seat panel is foldablyconnected to the support panel and also includes hinged panel that whenin an open position creates an opening that is aligned with the openingof the support panel. This hinged panel allows the user to use thestructure as a table or stool when not being used as a toilet.

Securing tabs are located along the top edge of the side walls and alongthe top edge of the front wall. These securing tabs fit within openingswithin the support panel to secure it in place. Further, a bag forcollecting waste, garbage and other items can be placed within theinterior of the structure and held in place by being secured to thesecuring tabs.

Upon reading the above description, various alternative embodiments willbecome obvious to those skilled in the art. These embodiments are to beconsidered within the scope and spirit of the subject invention, whichis only to be limited by the claims which follow and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the presentinvention as shown in FIG. 1 with the top panels open.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the present invention as shown inFIG. 1 with the support panel in place and the seat panel open.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment of the present invention asshown in FIG. 1 before folding into the storage configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The attached drawing demonstrates an embodiment of the presentinvention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited inits application to the details of the construction and arrangement ofparts illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is capableof other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a varietyof ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and not oflimitation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, an embodiment 10 of the present inventionis shown. Embodiment 10 comprises a folding structure 11 having frontwall 12 and a rear wall 14. These walls 12, 14 are opposing and parallelfrom each other. Two side walls 16 connect front and rear walls 12, 14,forming an interior 20 having an open top and bottom. Each of the sidewalls 16 have a fold 22 that enables each side wall 16 to be capable ofangling inwardly.

Located along the top edge of each side wall 16 are one or more securingtabs 18. Further a securing tab 24 is located along the top edge offront wall 12. Rear wall 14 is constructed from an interior panel 14Aand an exterior panel 14B. Adhesive (not shown) is used to connect thesepanels together in order to create folding structure 11.

A support panel 30 is hingedly connected to the top edge of said rearwall 14. Support panel has a plurality of openings 32 that areconfigured to receive support tabs 18, 24. By securing support panel 30to the top edge of the side walls 16 and front wall 12, the structure isprovided with sufficient strength to support the weight of the user andmovement of that user during use. Support panel 30 also includes anopening 34 to allow access into the interior 20 of the structure 11.

A seat panel 40 is foldably connected to the support panel 30. Seatpanel also has an opening 44 configured to receive securing tab 24located along the top edge of front wall 12. This allows for seat panel40 to be secure during use. Seat panel 40 includes a hinged lid 42. Whenlid 42 is in the open position, see FIG. 1, an opening 46 is createdthat is aligned with the opening 34 of the support panel 30.

In this embodiment, a bag (not shown) can be placed within the interior20 of structure 11 to receive waste, garbage and other items. This bagcan be secured in place by being adapted to be secured over the securingtabs 18, 24.

In operation, the user folds structure 11 such that interior panel 14Aand an exterior panel 14B overlap. The adhesive (not shown) is used tosecure the two panels together, see FIG. 2. Support panel 30 is thenplaced over the top edges of front wall 12 and the side walls 16 whereinit is secured in place by engaging securing tabs 18, 24 with openings32, see FIG. 3. Seat panel 40 is folded over support panel 30, and issecured in place by engaging securing tab 24 with opening 44. Lid 42 canbe opened providing access to interior 20 when being used as a toilet orcan be closed when used as a stool or table.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and the arrangement of components withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understoodthat the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth hereinfor purposes of exemplification.

1. A combined portable toilet and stool comprising: a folding structureincluding opposing and parallel front and rear walls, said front andrear walls connected by opposing and parallel side walls to define aninterior with open bottom and top, each of said side walls having foldsto enable said side walls to angle inwardly near their middle and havingsecuring tabs located along the top edge of each side wall, said frontwall having a securing tab located along its top edge, said rear wallincludes an interior panel and an exterior panel and wherein at leastone of said interior panel and said exterior panel has adhesive thereonin order to secure said panel to the other panel; an support panelhingedly connected to the top edge of said rear wall, said support panelhaving a plurality of openings adapted to receive said tabs locatedalong the top edges of said side walls and said front wall, said supportpanel having an opening adapted to allow access to said interior; a seatpanel is foldably connected to said support panel, said seat panelhaving a hinged lid such that when said lid is in the open positioncreates an opening that is aligned with the opening of the supportpanel, said seat panel having an openings adapted to receive saidsecuring tabs located along the top edge of said front wall.
 2. Thecombined portable toilet and stool as set out in claim 1 furthercomprises a bag adapted for being located within said interior of saidstructure and being adapted for being secured to said securing tabs ofsaid side walls.